When April comes, local villages in Huong Hoa District, a mountainous locality in Quang Tri Province, central Vietnam, are surrounded by vernicia in full bloom with pristine white petals and vividly red filaments.
Vernicia, also known as Tung oil tree, usually inhabits dry lands in jungles or alongside rice paddies in mountainous regions.
The plant can grow up to 10-15 meters tall with white flowers growing in bunches.
A large number of vernicia trees clustering together with blooming flowers looks like a blanket of clouds amid a vast mountainous area.
This is the most wonderful time of the year for nature lovers to admire the pristine beauty of blooming vernicia flowers along the Ho Chi Minh Trail, also known as the Truong Son Trail, western section that stretches from Khe Sanh Town to the communes of Huong Phung, Huong Viet, Huong Lap, Huong Son, and Huong Linh.
Vernicia trees full of flowers stand next to a local household. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
Visitors to the district will see tall vernicia trees with large canopies along winding roads snaking through tranquil villages.
As the flower boasts a light, gentle fragrance, it attracts lots of insects who come to feed on the flower’s nectar.
Vernicia flowers are in bloom for around one month, especially during the first half of April.
Vernicia flowers grow in bunches. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
Vernicia is also closely associated with the daily life of the Pa Co and Bru Van Kieu ethnic minority groups in the area.
The local residents plant vernicia on the mountain, in the yard, by rice paddies, or alongside the street, which creates poetic and superb scenery.
Visitors, especially the young, are recommended to don 'ao dai' (Vietnamese traditional costume) or outfits of the ethnic minority people while posing for photos with vernicia flowers.
However, they should pay much heed to their own safety while taking photos with the flower along winding roads as this could pose risk of traffic accidents.
A local house nestles next to vernicia trees in full bloom. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
Young woman smiles radiantly while posing for a photo with vernicia flowers. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
Visitors wear outfits of ethnic minority people while holding bunches of vernicia flowers. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
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